Lawrence Public Library

Hurly, Kealing's scrip book, 1847-1848

eng

no index present

non fiction

Hurly, Kealing's scrip book

855212155

This hand written diary has been bound into two layers of paper. The first 16 pages are the diary, blue ink on blue paper. The last eight pages are black ink on the same blue pages, but is written in a different hand writing and includes only hand written poems: Constancy by Jenny Marsh; Elsinlinde by Robert Griffin Staples; The tress of hair by Annie Southcomb; A mother's kiss by Wm. R.T. Edredge; and Reminiscences by Finly Johnson. The diary is titled "Hurly, Kealing's Scrip book." It starts July 15, 1847, in Galway, Ireland where the writer embarks on the Ship Bethel and lands at St. John's, New Brunswick, Canada, after a 44 day passage. The names at the front of the book are hard to read. Kealing looks right, but Murly could be HurlyNo first name is ever given. On July 15, 1847 the individual who wrote this diary embarked from Galway, Ireland aboard the ship Bethel, bound for St. John's, New Brunswick (probably Newfoundland). After 44 days he arrived at port in ill health. On Sept. 3, he embarked aboard the Steamship Admiral bound for Boston. On arriving in Boston 2 days later he was sent to Deer Island Hospital. In November he went to Groton, Conn., where he worked sporadically. He met a man from Ennistown, Ireland, named John Donoghue. On Nov. 24 he returned to Boston where he used up all his money and could not find work. He met Michael Corbat in South Boston, but still could not find work. He later met an officer on the wharf from a ship of war. The officer suggested that he join him on ship as a servant. He stayed in Charlestown until they departed for New York. On Mar. 17, 1848, the two sailed aboard a ship whose name cannot be read. They had fair wind to the Bahamas. He then boarded a steamer named Spitfire bound for Alvarado where he was welcomed and fed. He had expected paganism, but found devout Catholics and attended Mass. He described the inhabitants as copper colored. He describes the people's clothing in some detail. He lived there about 2 and 1/2 months. On June 13, he left for Laguna at the mouth of the River Moscheto off the coast of Yucatan. On June 22 he was off again to Boston. Accompanying them was a Brigantine named Antoinet. They put in at Key West for provisions. He comments on the cruelty aboard this vessel particularly by an officer named Reece. He landed in Boston Sept. 8 and immediately went off to Portsmouth, N.H